Method of uniting the panels of portable fences



C. VAN DE MARK.

Portable Fence.

No. 17,459. Patented June 2, 1857.

ITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

CHARLES VAN DE MARK, OF OAKS GORNERS, NEW YORK.

METHOD OF UNITING- THE PANELS OF PORTABLE FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 17,459, dated June 2,1857; Reissued July 10, 1860, No. 1,006.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES VAN DE HARK, of Oaks Corners, in the countyof Ontario and State of New York, have invented, made, and applied touse a new and useful Improvement in Portable or Field Board Fences; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference beinghad to the an neXed drawing, making part of t-his specification,wherein- Figure l is a planof my fence as in place for use and Fig. 2,is a side elevation of the same.

Similar marks of reference denote corresponding parts.

The nature of my said invention consists in constructing panels or traysof boards in such a manner that they shall lock together by means of endpieces, and form, when set in a worm or zig zag shape, a very strong butportable field fence, and one that can be put together with the greatestfacility and speed, or removed and packed away into a small compass.

The panels or trays of my fence are formed of uprights or posts c, b, c,and CZ, two or more of which (a and 0,) are slightly longer than theothers, to rest on the ground.

e, and f, are the top and bottom rails of the fence passing from thepost a, to the locking board (Z.

g, g, g, are intermediate rails of the desired number for the height ofthe fence. These intermediate rails g do not connect to the end lockingboard d, but pass from the post c, to a locking board it, which is of alength sufliciently less than the board CZ, to allow t-he same to beentered through the opening between the posts c and d, as the panels arebeing locked together. The posts at, and d, are on one side of the railse, f, g, and the posts l) and c, and locking board L on the other, andthe parts of each panel are to be securely fastened together at thepoints of intersection.

It will now be apparent that the successive panels or trays of the fenceare to be locked together by inserting the piece h, and projecting railsg through the opening of the next paneLfbetween the posts c, and boardd, and swinging the panels around until the locking board L, comesagainst the post c, and the locking board d comes against the post a,and forms a worm or zig zag fence, andthe locking boards 7L and CZ,drawing tightly against the end posts c, and c, form a iirm and securefence and one that cannot be removed except by commencing at one end oropening.

I would remark that the panels or trays must be handed, that is to say,the posts a, d, and c, b, 7L, alternately on opposite sides so as toallow the fence to be placed in the zig zag position, and the anglesofthis zig Zag may be more or less obtuse according to the stabilityrequired of the fence, and said angles are regulated by the distancebetween the locking boards d, h, and posts a, c.

At one or several places around a lot it becomes necessary to haveentrances or gate-- ways, to provide for which I attach one of thelocking boards d, by a bolt and nut at one end as at vl, and attach ahook c at the other so that said board can be t-urned down to allow thepiece h, to be swung out and effect an opening in the fence. My fencethus becomes adapted to a great many positions and circumstances, andthe panels are drawn tightly, and a very iirm corner obtained, by simplydrawing the angles of the fence into the most obtuse position making thepieces 7L and d sit tightly against the posts a and c and rails c, andf.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- The end lockingpiece or board 7L, combined with the locking board cl, and rails e, fand g, the whole constructed and operating ulstantially as and for thepurposes speci- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature thistenth day of April 1857. CHARLES VAN DE MARK. lVitnesses LYSANDERREDFIELD, VILLIAM HENRY.

[FIRST PRINTED 1912.]

